Will BJP dent in JMM bastion in final phase of polling in Jharkhand

Ranchi: The ruling BJP and grand alliance of opposition parties are gearing up for the final phase of three Lok Sabha seats in Jharkhand.

The three Lok Sabha seats- Dumka, Godda and Rajmahal will go to poll on May 19. IN 2014, JMM had won Dumka and Rajmahal and BJP Godda seat. All the three Lok Sabha seats fall in Santhal Pargana region, spread over in six district of Jharkhand is considered as bastion of JMM. Dumka and Rajmahal are reserved for Schedule Tribe (ST) After creation of the state in November 2000, BJP never won the Dumka Lok Sabha seat. JMM president
Shibu Soren is winning the Dumka seat since 1991 except in 1998 and 1999 Lok Sabha poll. In 1998 and 1999 Babulal Marandi of BJP had defeated Soren. Babulal Marandi had quit the seat in 2001 after becoming first Chief
Minister of Jharkhand in 2000. Shibu Soren had won the Dumka Lok Sabha bypoll in 2002. Marandi once a BJP die hard worker and first Chief Minister of Jharkhand quit BJP in 2006 and floated his own party, Jharkhand Vikas Morcha- Prajantantrik (JVM-P) is now alliance partner of JMM, RJD and Congress in 2019 poll.

Shibu Soren son Hemant Soren is former Chief Minister and legislator Barhet assembly seat which falls in Santhal Pargana. Shibu Soren daughter in law Sita Soren is also legislator from same region. Jharkhand Chief Minister
Raghubar Das is personally toiling hard to make dent in JMM bastion. Raghubar das is holding two to three rallies everyday in on the three seats. Raghubar Das is directly attacking the Shibu Soren family.

“Shibu Soren family exploited people of Santhal Pargana for their personal interest. People of Santhal Paragna supported Soren family in poll but Soren family did nothing for the development of the area. Soren family violated the land acts and purchased land illegally” says Raghubar das in rallies. Both BJP and JMM have been winning Rajmahal seats in past polls. In 2004 JMM had won and BJP had won in 2009. In 2014 JMM candidate Vijay Kumar
Hansdak had defeated BJP candidate Hemalal Murmu. Murmu had won the 2004 Lok Sabha on JMM ticket. Godda LOk Sabha seat has been traditionally won by Congress or BJP. BJP had won Godda seat in 1999, 2009 and 2014. Congress had won Godda seat in 2004. In 2014 Lok Sabha Congress was on second number but this seat has gone to JVM-P in seat sharing of grand alliance in 2019 poll.

In Santhal Pargana tribals have sizable population. More than one third voters belong to tribal community. JMM president Shibu Soren started his political carrier from Santhal Pargana region. He had launched campaign
against the moneylenders. His campaign freed the innocent tribals from clutches of moneylenders. Due to his struggle against moneylender Shibu Soren became popular as ’Disom Guru’.

In 2014 JMM had fought on four seats and won two seats in the state. JMM is confident of ousting BJP in 2019 poll. Similalry BJP is confident of ousting JMM from Santhal Pargana. Prime Minister Narendra a Modi held rally at Deoghar on Wednesday and enumerated the work done by his govt and Raghubar das govt. He charged Congress for using tribals as vote bank politics.